Addition Of COVID-19 Health Workers Takes Time, DKI Deputy Governor: Sorry, It's Not Like Recruiting Cleaners

DKI Deputy Governor Riza Patria (Diah Ayu / VOI)

JAKARTA - The DKI Provincial Government has asked the Ministry of Health to facilitate the addition of 2,676 health workers specifically to handle COVID-19 patients in Jakarta.

However, Deputy Governor of DKI Ahmad Riza Patria said that the process of adding COVID-19 handling officers requires time to carry out the recruitment process.

"Doctors are not like recruiting, apologize, they are not recruiting cleaners. We can make masks, gloves, maybe we can make them quickly. But for health workers the process is long," said Riza at City Hall, Friday, January 8.

In addition, Riza said that the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is also increasing the capacity of isolation beds and ICU care for COVID-19 patients who are currently running low.

Meanwhile, there are 101 referral hospitals and 92 testing laboratories for COVID-19. The occupancy rate of isolation beds reaches 85 percent, then the ICU room reaches 80 percent.

"The DKI Provincial Government as well as the central government, BUMN, and the private sector continue to seek the availability of various facilities related to handling COVID-19," said Riza.

Even so, according to Riza, no matter how many additional facilities and health workers for COVID-19 are provided, they cannot catch up with the rapid transmission of COVID-19 if the public still does not comply with health protocols.

"So, logically, we try to equate it. The speed of the virus is faster than we make masks, let alone prepare health workers, let alone make ICU rooms, let alone build hospitals," said Riza.

"Come on, the community together we work, don't let our children, wives, parents, or ourselves be exposed or even die, then we realize the importance of implementing health protocols," he continued.